Warrier's Collage December 9, 2020

Welcome to Warrier's Daily COLLAGE December 9, 2020 Wednesday 🙏 M G Warrier Restoring TRUST in Governance : India's 2020's Challenge https://www.amazon.in/dp/B08NT36GB2/ref=cm_sw_r_em_apa_hBmYFb7PBYR0M A The Secret World of Wellness https://youtu.be/S6RJaZ_Drmw (Ancient Indian Ayurveda) Today in Collage: A Secret World of Wellness B. Interaction CC Current Affairs C Readers Contribution: V Babusenan on Bertrand Russell D Health & Hygiene E 2 Book Review: Bhagavad Gita F Leisure G Quotes Quote for the day: "A healthy mind does not speak ill of others" -Anonymous More quotes at G B. Interaction S K Gupta Panchkula Dr T V Surendran's story was not only timely but highly thought provoking too since it holds a mirror before all of us. In fact, our national media (mainly the visual media) simply refuses to make amends even as it continues to serve some 'self-serving and half-baked' stuff to us all. Amidst all this, the ball truly lies in our own courts. CC Current Affairs 1) Monetary Policy Announced by RBI (December 2020) https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-why-rbis-monetary-policy-committee-kept-policy-rates-unchanged-yet-again-7091389/ 2) FM speaks on fiscal gap https://www.hindustantimes.com/business-news/nirmala-sitharaman-says-india-is-not-worried-about-widening-fiscal-gap-will-step-up-spending/story-Zy6v0dIOmuh1cat3VoOg3J.html C Readers' Contribution 1) V Babusenan on Bertrand Russell Something about Bertrand Russell . In today's Collage, the Editor has kindly invited me to say something about Russell. He said that I had translated (into Malayalam ) Russell's famous book: 'Conquest of Happiness'. In a restricted sense, it is true. I had translated the book, but it is yet to be published. The publisher wanted the printing cost in advance. I said that I lived by my pension which had remained the same for 15 years, that I could not afford this luxury and that he could take his own time to publish it. In the meantime, I derived some satisfaction by publishing another much smaller book, at the printer's cost, with the caption: 'Russellinte Soukhya Sankalpam'. I don't wish to tire the reader with further details. Before proceeding further, I must thank the Editor for having made available a very detailed account of Russell's life and work. I seek the indulgence of the readers for a few additions. Russell was one of the few top grade intellectuals who dedicated their lives for the welfare of mankind without seeking the help of God. (One may say that God helps even those who do not approach Him for help.) He was an agnostic and not an atheist, although, in reality, both mean the same. He wanted logically acceptable proof for every thing, including the existence of God. During the course of a small party arranged in connection with his ninetieth birthday, a lady asked him what he would ask God on meeting Him. Russell replied with a smile that he would ask God why He had not left sufficient proof with mankind for His existence! Does anyone doubt that the nuclear weapons stored in the armament depots of the mighty powers are more than adequate to destroy the entire world at one go? Not at all. This catastrophe, in all likelihood, would have happened but for the tireless efforts of some great men of the stature and calibre of Russell. In 1963, when on the threshold of ninety-one, he narrated his daily schedule to someone thus: "From 8 O' clock in the morning to11.30, either I will read newspapers or write replies to letters. On an average, I receive hundred letters in a day. From 11.30 a m to 1 p m I see visitors. From 2 to 4 p.m I read. I read mostly articles and books on nuclear matters. From 4 to 7 p m I write or see visitors. From 8 p.m to 1 a m I write or read." What a formidable daily schedule for a nonagenarian! Russell was a great friend of India. He was very close to Nehru and Krishna Menon. He denounced in very strong terms, the atrocities committed by the British in colonial India. He was the first President of the India League, the organization in England that worked relentlessly under Menon towards influencing the British minds in favour of granting independence to India. Russell did sterling work in this regard. He was very happy when India got freedom. He warmly congratulated Nehru for being instrumental in choosing the path of democracy. It is true that the Sino-Indian conflict somewhat soured the relationship, but that was a transient phase. In one of his ABC books Russell wrote: "The final conclusion is that we know very little, and yet it is astonishing that we know so much, and still more astonishing that so little knowledge can give us so much power." His concept of a good life he condensed in one beautiful sentence: "A good life is one inspired by love and guided by knowledge." (Thanks, Babusenan Sir. This Editor's hat I'll use as a mask to scare some of my friends. I've borrowed several books by Russell' from Thiruvananthapuram University Library during 1963-67. Some of them I have read. I like the feel of the thoughts philosophers express, though I don't understand many of them-Warrier) 2) Desire https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/readersblog/soulful/the-desire-28249/ Posted online comments: when we read, the message looks so simple and some of us may feel, the writer is repeating the obvious. but, we need such stories to be told again and again. how many of us can claim having taken pains to understand the kind of \"hand to mouth\" lives hawkers like the one the writer introduced, live? some of us bargain with them and find pleasure when the fellow parts with the balloons for half the price. and about desire. desire to do good, desire to serve society, desire to wipe tears or make a fellow-being smile and so on, come spontaneous, not from exhortation or fear. still, reminders like this have a role in spreading the good message. it\'s comforting to see more and more writers with a flare for \"story-telling\" coming forward to share positive thoughts...' -M G Warrier D Health and Hygiene 1) Dr B M Hegde on Ayurveda https://youtu.be/HzTvEK1sVi0 2) Health in your hands https://www.speakingtree.in/blog/health-in-your-hands Recently, there has been some efforts to create awareness about the links between limbs and various organs in the body. Here's a handful. E. Blogs and Links 1) Ancient Indian Ayurveda Literature https://www.ayurveda.com/resources/articles/the-ancient-ayurvedic-writings 2) Bhagavad Gita* https://www.newindianexpress.com/lifestyle/books/2020/dec/06/the-bhagavat-gita-book-review-twin-view-of-a-sacred-scripture-2231465.amp?__twitter_impression=true *Link courtesy: Mohanakrishnan 3) Holistic Healthcare https://www.innovativehealthdallas.com/holistic-healthcare/ F. Leisure: 1) Poetry https://www.poemhunter.com/poem/hygiene-and-health/ 2) Your smile behind the mask is visible from a distance! BPositive* Doctor : Your Liver is enlarged Patient : Does that mean it has space for more whisky ? (This is called "Positive Thinking") Lady to her dietician :- What l am worried about is my height and not my weight. Doc :- How come??? Lady :- According to my weight, my height should be 7.8 feet... (Now this is called "Positive Attitude" ) A Man wrote to the bank. "My Cheque was returned with remark 'Insufficient funds'. I want to know whether it refers to mine or the Bank". (This is self confidence in its peak ) This one is classic !! A cockroach's last words to a man who wanted to kill it : "Go ahead and kill me, you coward. You're just jealous because I can scare your wife and you cannot..!!!!" Always be positive even in difficult situations *Forward received from T J Kurup Thiruvanantapuram G Quotable Quotes: Healthy Quotes https://www.awakenthegreatnesswithin.com/34-motivational-health-quotes/